Grip-carrier for button-making machines.



N6. 707,326. Patented Aug. I9, I902.

J. HORNIBY.

GRIP CARRIER FUR BUTTON MAKING MACHINES.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheeis$heet I.

WITNESSES: //v VENTOH 2 5 ATTORNEY m: uonms rrrzas comaorcxufhu.WASHKNGYON, n u.

Pafanted Au I9, I902. J. uonmav. GRIP CARRIER FUR BUTTON MAKINGMACHINES.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1902.)

2 Sheats-$heet 2.

(No Modal.)

' INVENTOH ZMV at:

fidfilzw 6M ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

NITED STATE ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HORMBY, OF IVOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

GRIP-CARRIER FOR BUTTON-MAKING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,326, dated August19, 1902.

Application filed April 4, 1902. Serial No. 101,436. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,JOHN HORMBY, a citizen of the United States, residingat Woonsocket,

in the county of Providence and State of,

Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGrip-Carriers for Button-Making Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to grip devices or carriers for button-makingmachines, and especially for that class of machines for making buttonsfrom slabs or slices of the ivory-nut, such as that shown and describedin my prior patent, No. 611,811, dated October 1,1898. In that machinecertain diiiiculties were encountered in the operation of the gripdevices, which were to a large extent overcome by the mechanism shownand described in my Patent No. 629,997, dated August 1, 1899, theprincipal improvement being the making of the movable jaw of thegrip-carrier of a plurality of separately-movable members and theprovision of means for moving said members simultaneously butindependently toward the fixed jaw, whereby slabs of irregular form weremore firmly held and prevented from slipping from the carrier. In thepractical use of the machine as thus improved I have found that therewas a tendency in the forward motion of the tool to drive the stockagainst the work-carrier, thusloosening it, so that in the succeedingoperation it might be thrown out. 7

The object of the present invention is to provide means for avoidingthis difficulty; and with this object in view the invention consists inthe improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts of thegripcarrier, which will be hereinafter fully described and afterwardspecifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a view of the grip-carrier,partly in elevation and partly sectional, on the plane of the line 1 1of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the same plane. Fig. 3 is aview in elevation of part of the turret or multiple grip-carrier and onecomplete grip mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail view, in top plan, ofsubstantially the same parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view insection on the plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a face view ofthe saddle. Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional detail views on the lines 7 and8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a face view of the teetering-ring. Fig. 10 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 11is aface view of the washer or ringnext to the locking-pinion. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, A indicates theturret or multiple grip-carrier, which is mounted to rotateintermittently, as in my Patent No. 611,811, before referred to, and towhich is secured in a circular series the fixed jaw B, the latter beingprovided with an annular toothed edge I) and an opening I) to admit ofthe access of the operating-tools. The movable jaw is composed of twoparts or members C C, alike in size and proportions and positionedopposite each other, being provided at their inner ends withsleeve-bearings journaled on a pin 0, mounted in lugs 0, formed on acasting D, rigidly secured to the turret A by screws or other suitablefastening means. The casting D is formed at its outer end asa sleeve D,in which is a centrally-perforated diaphragm d, thus forming at one enda seat or recess (1' separate from the main sleeve-opening. In thesleeve D is a groove or key-seat to accomrnodate a key lug or pin e onone side of an annular nut E, thus holding it against turning in thesleeve.

F indicates a pin which passes through the central opening of thediaphragm d and is threaded into the nut E, this pin F being enlargedbeyond the diaphragm and provided with an annular flange F, seated inthe recess d, the enlarged end of the pin being also threaded at f andprovided with a slotted screw-head f.

Loosely mounted on the pin F is a saddle G, which bears at its roundedouter .ends G upon the two members 0 O of the movable jaw and forms theinner bearing for a teetering-ring H, which latter has two lugs h,diametrically opposite each other, seated in similarly-located notches gof the saddle. On the opposite face of the ring II are diametricallyopposite lugs h at positions at right angles to the lugs h, seated incorrespondinglyplaced notches t' in a washer'I, which serves to receivethe impact of a pinion J, threaded on the enlarged end of the pin F.

In the sleeve D, coiled about the pin F, is a strong expansive spring K,having bearings at its ends upon the nut E and diaphragm d,respectively. This spring may be adj usted in tension by turning the pinF. Suitable springs L serve to normally press the movable jaw membersoutward or to their open positions.

The operation of the invention is to a large extent the same as in thegrip-carrier of my Patent No. 629,997, before referred to, and may bedescribed as follows: A slab of material, as at M in Fig. 4:, beingplaced with one of its fiat surfaces against the teeth of the fixed jaw,the pinion J is rotated by a segmental pinion or any other suitableconnection with the machine, and thus caused to advance on the thread ofthe pin F and press upon the Washer I, teetering-ring I'I, saddle G, andthe members 0 O of the movable jaw, such pressure of the parts, owing tothe universal joint formed by the teetering-ring, being equallydistributed upon each member and causing it to press equally with itsfellow member against the slab no matter how irregular in form the slabmay be. In my former patent, No. 629,997, this pressure was positive;but in the present instance the pressure is against the force of thespring K, which, as before stated, is very strong, and its force isexerted upon the members of the movable jaw with sufficient strength tosecurely hold the slab, while at the same time the jaws being held withspring-pressure will always maintain contact and cannot be loosened byjarring of the machine or on account of the tendency of the tool todrive the stock against the work, as before mentioned. The advantage ofsuch a uniform tension on the jaws and their automatic tightening due tothe present structure will be obvious, and it has proved a great successin practical operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In agrip-carrier, the combination with a fixed jaw of a movable jaw composedof a plurality of separatelymovable members, of means for moving saidmembers simultaneously but independently toward said fixed jaw, with ayielding pressure.

2. In a grip-carrier, the combination with a fixed jaw of a movable jawcomposed of a plurality of separately-movable members, of means formoving said members simultaneously but independently toward said fixedjaw, with a yielding pressure, said means consisting of a pinion mountedupon a screw, a universally-jointed bearing intermediate the pinion andthe members of the movable jaw and a spring acting against the pressureof the pinion.

3. In a grip-carrier the combination with a fixed jaw, of a movable jawconsisting of separate members, means for opening and clos ing the jawsconsisting of a pinion mounted upon a screw, a spring acting against thethrust of the pinion, and bearing-pieces interposed between the pinionand the movable jaw adapted to freely oscillate with relation to thejaw, the pinion and each other.

4;. In a grip-carrier, the combination with a fixed jaw and a movablejaw consisting of separate members, of means foropening and closing thejaws consisting of a screw, means for moving it yieldingly in thedirection of the closing of the jaws, means for movingit positively inthe opposite direction and a universally-jointed bearing between thepositive means and the movable jaw.

Witness my hand this 17th day of March, 1902, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

' JOHN HORMBY.

Witnesses:

EDWIN J. PERIN, Jr., RALPH F. BUNKER.

